Facts About Cervical Cancer

How many women in the U.S. are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year?

1,000

4,000

11,000

29,000

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: Each year, more than 11,000 American women are diagnosed with cervical cancer. Another 4,000 women die from cervical cancer each year. The good news: Those numbers are dropping by four percent every year, thanks to screening tests and early detection.

Facts About Cervical Cancer

Question 2 of 20 Correct

What is the most common cause of cervical cancer?

Irregular periods

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Polycystic ovarian syndrome

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: Human papillomavirus (HPV). Cervical cancer is almost always caused by HPV, a string of viruses that can mutate healthy cells on the cervix's surface into cancerous ones.

Facts About Cervical Cancer

Question 3 of 20 Correct

True or false: A yearly Pap test is the best way to detect cervical cancer.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: This is false. The United States Preventative Services Task Force(USPSTSF) recommends women ages 21 to 65 years old should have a Pap smear every three years.

Facts About Cervical Cancer

Question 4 of 20 Correct

You may not know if you have HPV, because symptoms are hard to detect.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: This is true. The current recommendation is to begin HPV testing at age 30, when the traditional Pap is performed. HPV is very common, and for most women, the virus clears up.

Facts About Cervical Cancer

Question 5 of 20 Correct

Which of these is a risk factor for cervical cancer?

Having intercourse as a teenager

Smoking cigarettes

Having unprotected intercourse

All of the above

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: All of the above. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the only known cause of cervical cancer, but doctors also believe smoking, having unprotected sex and having sex as a teenager also increase your risk. Other factors that may increase your risk: having AIDs or a compromised immune system or having multiple sexual partners.

Facts About Cervical Cancer

Question 6 of 20 Correct

True or false: Women with a history of dysplasia are at a greater risk for developing cervical cancer.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: This is true. Dysplasia is a condition (usually discovered in a Pap test) where normal cells begin growing abnormally or become pre-cancerous If you've been treated for dysplasia, you should see your doctor again three to four months after treatment.

Facts About Cervical Cancer

Question 7 of 20 Correct

True or false: Cervical cancer is incurable.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: This is false. If cervical cancer is caught early, it can be cured with a hysterectomy, a surgery where the uterus and cervix are removed.

Facts About Cervical Cancer

Question 8 of 20 Correct

True or false: Using condoms during sexual intercourse can help prevent cervical cancer.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: This is true. Using condoms and being smart about your sexual partners can help reduce, though not prevent entirely, your likelihood of being exposed to HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer.

Facts About Cervical Cancer

Question 9 of 20 Correct

At what age can a girl first receive the HPV vaccine?

Birth

9

14

18

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: The HPV vaccine can be given to a girl as young as age 9, though women into their mid-20s may also receive it. To be most effective, it's best to be vaccinated before becoming sexually active.

Facts About Cervical Cancer

Question 10 of 20 Correct

True or false: You are more likely to develop cervical cancer if you have a sister who had it.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: This is true. Though cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus, evidence suggests that cervical cancer can run in families. Women with a sister or a mother who had cervical cancer may have double or triple the risk compared to women who have not had a family member with the disease.

Facts About Cervical Cancer

Question 11 of 20 Correct

True or false: Only about 15 percent of women with advanced cervical cancer live more than five years after treatment.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: This is true. Cervical cancer can be life threatening. If the cancer has spread to other organs, the survival rate past five years is only around 15 percent. But cervical cancer is easily treated if it's caught early, and the survival rate past five years then is 90 percent.

Facts About Cervical Cancer

Question 12 of 20 Correct

Which of these forms of birth control can help protect against HPV?

The birth control pill

IUD

Condoms

A hormone patch

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: Condoms can help prevent the transmission of HPV (though it is not 100 percent effective). All other forms of birth control can prevent pregnancy, but they do not prevent sexually transmitted diseases, including HPV.

Facts About Cervical Cancer

Question 13 of 20 Correct

What can the HPV vaccine protect against?

Genital warts

Cervical cancer

Some oral cancers

All of the above

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: All of the above. In addition to preventing HPV, the virus that causes genital warts and cervical cancer, the HPV vaccine has also been shown to reduce the risk for some oral cancers.

Facts About Cervical Cancer

Question 14 of 20 Correct

How often should you have a pelvic exam?

Once every five years

Once every three years

Once a year

Once a month

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: The United States Preventative Services Task Force recommends a Pap smear every three years and pelvic exams every year.

Facts About Cervical Cancer

Question 15 of 20 Correct

True or false: If you have received the HPV vaccine, you do not need Pap tests or pelvic exams.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: This is false. You should continue yearly Pap tests and pelvic exams even if you have received the HPV vaccine. Nothing is 100 percent effective at protecting against HPV or cervical cancer.

Facts About Cervical Cancer

Question 16 of 20 Correct

True or false: Using birth control pills may increase your risk slightly for cervical cancer.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: This is true. Using birth control pills for five or more years may slightly increase your risk of cervical cancer if you have an HPV infection. However, the risk decreases quickly when you stop using the pill.

Facts About Cervical Cancer

Question 17 of 20 Correct

How is cervical cancer treated?

Surgery

Chemotherapy

Radiation

All of the above

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: All of the above. Depending on how far the cancer has spread, a doctor may recommend chemotherapy, radiation or several different surgery options, among other possible treatments.

When should a woman have her first Pap test and pelvic exam?

The correct answer is: Women should have their first Pap test and pelvic exam by age 21, or within three years of becoming sexually active.

Facts About Cervical Cancer

Question 20 of 20 Correct

Which of the following is a sign of cervical cancer?

Bleeding between periods

Pelvic pain

Painful intercourse

All of the above

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: All of the above. Early cervical cancer can have almost no symptoms, which is why early detection with a Pap test is so important. However, once the cancer becomes advanced, you may notice bleeding between periods or during intercourse, painful intercourse, pelvic pain, unusual vaginal discharge and bleeding after menopause, among other symptoms.

Facts About Cervical Cancer

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